The two women and the child were hurried down, and took their places in it.

Francois, who had escaped, had fortunately found them; and took the reins, and the journey was continued.
There was no pursuit.

It was only a portion of Westermann's force that had arrived, and these were so exhausted and worn out, by the length of their march and by the fact that they had been unable to obtain food by the way, that they threw themselves down when they reached the town, incapable of marching a mile farther.
At Beaupreau there had been no fewer than five thousand Republican prisoners, kept under guard.

On the arrival of the routed Vendeans, the peasants, as a last act of retaliation, would have slain them; but Bonchamp, who was at the point of death, ordered them to be set free.
"It is the last order that I shall ever give," he said to the peasants assembled round his litter.

"Surely you will not disobey me, my children." The order was obeyed, and the prisoners were at once sent off; and as the Republican column marched out from Chollet, the next day, they encountered on the road their liberated comrades.